Total Pageviews

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Another Rant about Pain Management Rules & Regulations

Today was Bob's monthly scheduled appointment with Pain Management. Until they called this morning and cancelled it.

The reason for the cancellation was that they have too many patients this week and have met their federal quota for dispensing narcotic scripts and therefore they are canceling appointments.
And, of course, the only appointment available next week is at 9-freaking-45 a.m. on Monday. Which means I must get up at 4:00 a.m. in order to get the dog walked and myself and then Bob ready for a 9:00 a.m. transport ride.

And the home draw technician is due to arrive on Monday morning too.

And then he has a 2:00 Rehab appointment that afternoon. Bob is going to be worn out after that long day. Not to mention, me too.

And we can't wait until the next week, because then Bob will be out of pain medication. Because, you know, the federal government prohibits refills on these prescriptions.

And they prohibit the doctor from calling the prescription to a pharmacy.

So you have to go in person to see the doctor to get the handwritten prescription. Once at the pharmacy, the pharmacist must contact the doctor's office to verify this is, indeed, a real prescription. Even if it's the exact same prescription you've been picking up at the exact same pharmacy for two years now....

Oh, and then pharmacist has to check your ID. Even when she recognizes you on sight and already knows your name.

Because that's Big Brother watching you and telling doctors and pharmacists what they can and can not do.

And since the War on Drugs against narcotic pain medication has been launched, I haven't seen one damn statistic that it has done anything to curtail abuse....

I tell you, these government rules are nothing but a huge pain in the ass for legit pain patients like Bob.

And I'm done ranting now.

(Even though I haven't even mentioned the twice yearly, government required, urine tests!)

Unfortunately, I'm afraid once the Affordable Health Care Act comes into play next year, it's only going to get worse, the paperwork more extensive and the cost more expensive. Send your "rant" to your congressmen and senators, state and federal. As so many laws go, the intent is good, but the written law is hugely flawed.

Welcome To Our Pink House

About Me

Bob and I were married 09/16/94. He is my soulmate, the love of my life. Bob is an artist and I am a writer.
On 10/20/10, Bob, following his doctor's advice, underwent a carotid endarterectomy. When I left him in ICU that night, he was fine and I thought in good hands. Two hours after my departure, a nurse noted on his chart that Bob's speech was slurred and his right arm was paralyzed. The nurse did not call a doctor. Later that night, the nurse noted that Bob could not move his right arm or leg, still a doctor was not called. The next morning, the nurse noted that he was paralyzed on the right side, a "12" on the Glasgow Coma Scale, disoriented and confused, but no doctor was informed. I arrived at 9:00 a.m. and immediately called for the doctor. He was rushed to surgery. It was 12 hours too late. The CAT scan showed 2/3 of his brain had been damaged. I was told he would not survive. Somehow, he did.
Bob was discharged from the hospital on 12/31/10 and, although the hospital wanted him sent to a nursing home, I brought him home instead. This is the story of our journey since that day. This is also a love story.
(Bob passed away 5/28/15 and I am trying to survive....)